Our History

The Center funded 10 demonstration projects that revealed how small changes to our surroundings can make a significant difference in creating opportunities for active living. These projects helped transform neighborhoods into places where walking, biking and physical activity are safe, easy and accessible. 

Even though the overall smoking rate in Minnesota had decreased significantly, certain populations still experienced high rates of use and exposure. With the Center’s funding, eight organizations launched community specific efforts to raise awareness about the harms of commercial tobacco and/or influence policy changes within their communities.

Many of the complex factors that significantly impact health fall outside the traditional purview of the health care sector. To assist leaders and policymakers in taking the health in different communities into consideration when making policy decisions, eight organizations were selected to receive a total of $1.3 million from the Center.